By Zoila Palma: International Archaeology Day was celebrated on October 16 at the Cahal Pech Archaeological Site in San Ignacio, Cayo, highlighting Belize’s rich archaeological heritage and the importance of preserving the country’s history.
The celebration also recognized young talent, with Kara Jones of Saint Ignatius High School in Santa Elena, Cayo, taking first place in the International Archaeology Day poetry contest.
Jones earned the top spot with her poem, “Echoes in the Limestone,” which explores Belize’s ancient Maya history, archaeological discoveries and the connection between the past and national identity.
Her poem references historic sites such as Xunantunich and Actun Tunichil Muknal, as well as artifacts that help tell the story of the people who once inhabited the land.
In her poem, Jones writes, “This is the soil where our identity grows,” emphasizing the importance of archaeology in understanding Belize’s cultural roots.
She also reflects on how artifacts preserve the stories of past generations, describing history as more than a memory, but a living part of Belizean identity.
The poem concludes with a call to preserve the legacy of the ancient Maya and keep Belize’s history alive for future generations.
Poem below:
The spade breaks through the heavy floor of time,
Where roots of ancient trees entwine the deep,
To wake a world preserved in dust and lime,
And rouse a sacred history from its sleep.
Beneath the shadow of Xunantunich’s crown,
And deep in Actun Tunichil Muknal,
The past is never dead or broken down—
It breathes in jade, in flint, in pottery wall.
A thousand hands once shaped this sacred land,
They tracked the stars and carved the temple steep,
Now resurrected by a careful hand,
That brushes away the dirt to break their sleep.
This is the soil where our identity grows,
Where history is not a memory left to die,
But blood that speaks through artifacts, and flows
To keep the spirit of Belize alive and high.
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